3 Productivity Apps for Recruiters

There’s a reason why a quick search for ‘Productivity’ on Amazon generates 83,199 results. Time is the only resource that we cannot get more of. As a result, we’re all under pressure to optimize our output, be productive and ensure that we’re not wasting any precious time.

There are heaps of apps, websites and books that promise you better results. It seems a little counter-productive to burn time looking for apps that save you time, so I’ve pinpointed three simple apps that I use every day to get more done.

These productivity apps can make an enormous difference to your recruiting team’s results. Enjoy:

Plant Your Forest

Are you easily distracted? Do you find it hard not to check out the new photo that you’ve been tagged in on Facebook or filter the latest tweets? You’re not alone. Most of us are addicted to the warm fuzzy feeling we get when we see a new notification. The issue is that it is a serious drain on productivity.

Forest is here to help.

Soothing, as well as highly effective, this app (iOS & Chrome) helps you focus on the tasks that really matter.

The app is very simple. You open Forest to plant a seedling. If you leave the app in the next 30 minutes or visit any ‘blacklisted websites’, your new tree dies. If you’re successful, you’ve just taken the first step to planting your new Forest.

You can create your own ‘blacklist’, but I’d recommend including classic time-drains like Facebook and Twitter to make sure you’re not sabotaging your productivity.

Cooking Up A Pomodoro

Do you find yourself hopping between tasks like a madman, juggling new emails with requests from your boss, jumping between candidate calls and email follow-ups?

Again, you’re not alone. Most of us, myself included, find it tough to settle down to a single task and get into what is known as our ‘flow state.’

The Pomodoro Technique is a highly effective antidote for this state of affairs.

It’s a simple time management technique devised by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980′s. You split your workday into 25 minute periods of intense, focused work, that are followed by 5-minute breaks. The method is based on the idea that frequent breaks can improve mental agility.

I use the 25 minute stretches of focus to tackle my major tasks for the day, (I usually plan these tasks the evening before), and the 5 minute breaks to ‘switch off’ and respond to emails and tweets.

I’d definitely recommend giving it a go. You can even buy your very own tomato shaped timer to keep track of your work schedule if you fancy!

Toggl Tasks

Ever get that feeling that you’re totally rushed off your feet but unable to really pinpoint exactly what you’ve achieved at the end of the day?

If you’re not careful, different recruiting tasks blend into each other, and it becomes pretty difficult to make sure you’re moving forward every day.

I use Toggl to keep track of exactly how I’m spending my time (I’m even using it right now to track how long it takes to write this blog post!)

The app lets you track individual tasks, or measure how long you’re spending on different projects each week. It’s essentially a timesheet, but it’s a timesheet that gives you analytics at the end of every day to show you exactly how you’re spending your time.

Not only does this help you become more productive, but it’s easy to share with your boss or your wider team to demonstrate what you’re working on and how efficient you really are.

Summary

There’s a common theme with the three apps that I’ve highlighted in this article. The all require a certain level of commitment from you. Technology can only take you so far; ultimately you’re responsible for your own productivity.

If you’re prepared to make that commitment, then I can guarantee you’ll be surprised at the per-hour efficiency that’s possible. These apps really are pretty great. If there are others that you use on a regular basis, I’d love to know what they are in the comments!

About The Author

Ben Slater is VP Growth at Beamery, recruiting software powered by machine intelligence. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn and Twitter. If you would like more information on Beamery, you can request a demo here.

By Ben Slater